Monthly Archives: December 2014
Heezy, Artist, Seoul, South Korea
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
So far, I have been successful at being different from other (Korean) people and being somewhat independent. Koreans usually live with their parents and get allowance from their parents until they get married but I moved out in my early twenties. I know it doesn’t look like a big deal to a lot of westerners but here in Seoul – where being different is almost a sin – it was not so easy. Being independent is followed by responsibilities but I still try to keep my young and wild side as well as the sense of humour and the childlike quality. Challenges? Depression, anxiety and money!
I was out to my friends for a while and that happened naturally because most of my friends are very open minded Koreans who have experienced foreign cultures, artists, or non-Koreans. However, my mom was a Korean woman who have never really been outside Korea so I kept postponing coming out to her because I didn’t wanna deal with all the possible dramas that might have followed the coming out. One day, I just thought coming out to her would free me in many ways so I just did it. Though, I had to bring my gay best friend because I needed someone who would support me and encourage me, haha. I grew up with a lot of American TV series with my family so my mom was pretty open minded and there’s was no drama or anything. I’m lucky because a lot of Koreans struggle so much when they come out.
(With regards to the gay community in Seoul) There are two big categories. One is the category of people who are totally or somewhat out. They are usually also very open minded and well-experienced with foreign cultures. They usually hang out in Itaewon where the clubs are. The other is the category of people who are not out. They tend to be conservative and trapped in traditional/old values. They hang out with their tiny group of friends in Jongno where there are Korean style bars. I am supposed to understand and respect both people but I love clubbing so much so I don’t really know people from the latter category.
(Advice I’d give my younger self) Always make enough money so you can be free and independent but don’t turn into a boring person who doesn’t know how to have fun. I know it’s been hard keeping the balance but keep trying and keep being yourself!”
Claudia and Claudia, with their Daughter Gabby, Santiago, Chile
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
photo by Kevin Truong
Siendo una familia Lesbomaternal no es tan diferente a otras familias. Tratamos de ver lo que las cosas que tenemos en común y después de tener largas conversaciones, meditando sobre ello, tendemos a llegar a la misma conclusión: nos amamos incondicionalmente y hacemos lo posible como familia para celebrar, amar, y respetarnos a través de los buenos y malos momentos.
Ser la mamá de Gabby y la esposa de Claudia ha sido una afirmación de amor, estamos espiritualmente sincronizadas y nuestras almas han estado conectadas desde hace muchas vidas anteriores.
El 19 de agosto a las 1:29 am Gabby nació y recuerdo la primera cosa que le dije fue lo agradecida que estaba del Universo por habernos juntado, y le dije que Mami la tenía en brazos.
Ella lloró y apenas abrió sus ojos profundamente negros como la piedra onyx y nos miramos por primera vez. Gabby me ha enseñado tanto acerca de la vida y ser su Mamá ha sido lejos la experiencia que más me ha quitado el aliento a través de este viaje que llamamos vida. Gabby me ha demostrado lo que es el amor incondicional.
Luego 3 años a través de nuestro viaje juntas, mi esposa y yo nos conocimos el 2 de noviembre de 2007 nosotras nos enamoramos perdidamente una de la otra.
Jamás he amado a otra mujer como amo a mi esposa Claudia. Desde el primer momento en que mis ojos la vieron, me enamoré profundamente, sentí que la conocía desde mucho tiempo. Nuestro primer beso selló lo que se convertiría en una larga vida juntas nosotras las tres.
Siento que he sido bendecida de habernos encontrado una a la otra, siento que el amor prevalecerá y que en Chile el derecho de amarnos y protegernos como familia será una realidad. Más que matrimonio igualitario urgentemente necesitamos contar con los mismos derechos maternos. Es una violación a nuestros derechos humanos prohibir que Gabby sea legalmente reconocida por ambas madres. Estamos dispuestas a hacer lo que sea por nuestro derecho a amar. El amor hace la familia.”
In English:
“We have to say that we were pleasantly surprised when Kevin invited us to participate in his project. We are honored to be part of The Gay Men Project and we wish you the best on your amazing adventure, Kevin.
Being a same-sex family is not that much different from other families. We try to look at things that we have in common and after having long talks and meditating over it, we tend to come to the same conclusion: We love one another unconditionally and do whatever it takes as a family to celebrate, love and respect one another through the good and bad times.
Being Gabby’s Mom and Claudia’s wife has been an affirmation of love. We are spiritually in tune, and our souls have been connected from long ago.
On August 19th, 2004 at 1:29 am Gabby was born and I remember the first thing I said to her is how thankful I was that the Universe had brought her and I together, I told her that I will always love her and that Mommy was holding her.
She cried, and barely opened her deep black onyx eyes and we looked at each other for the first time. Gabby has taught me so much about life and being her Mom has been by far the most breathtaking mission throughout this journey we call life. Gabby has shown me what true unconditional love is.
Then 3 years across our journey together, my wife and I met on November 2nd 2007 we fell head over heels in love with one another.
I’ve never loved another woman as much as I love my wife Claudia. From the first moment I laid eyes on her, I fell deeply in love. I felt that I had known her for so long…our first kiss sealed what was to become a long life together, us three.
I feel that we have been so blessed to have found one another. I feel that love will prevail and that in Chile our family’s right to love and protect ourselves will become a reality. We want more than marriage equality, we urgently need to have the same legal maternal rights. It is a violation of our human rights to prohibit Gabby to be legally recognized by both her Moms.
We are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for our right to love. Love makes a family.”
Claudia, in her own words: “Desde el momento en que vi a Claudia sentí una conexión que jamás había sentido en la vida, fue increíble como nuestras almas se encontraron y se reconocieron inmediatamente. Desde ese mismo instante, hace 7 años atrás supe que quería estar a su lado y no separarme jamás de ella.
Todo este tiempo ha sido maravilloso despertar cada mañana a su lado y dormirme entre sus brazos, es como si estuviera viviendo un sueño del cual nunca quisiera despertar. Me ha enseñado lo que es el verdadero amor y con sus detalles diarios y diferentes demostraciones de cariño sigue alimentando este hermoso sentimiento en mí, además me ha dado el mejor regalo que alguien puede recibir. La oportunidad de ser madre, ha sido una experiencia preciosa, llena de desafíos y responsabilidades pero muy enriquecedora también, por lo que siempre estaré agradecida.
El momento en que nos convertimos en esposas si bien fue solo algo simbólico ha marcado un antes y un después en nuestra hermosa relación, siento que nuestro amor está consagrado y crece cada día, solo puedo agradecerle por llegar a mi vida, por enseñarme a crecer y ser mejor persona cada día.”
In English:
“From the moment I saw Claudia I felt a connection that I hadn’t felt ever in my life. It was incredible how our souls found each other and recognized one another immediately. Since that first moment, seven years ago I knew that I wanted to be by her side and never leave her.
All of this time it has been wonderful to wake up each morning by her side and go to sleep in her arms every night. It’s like a dream I never want to wake up from. She has shown me what true love is and her daily surprises and different ways of giving me affection keep what I feel for her so alive. Besides all of that she has given me the best gift anyone could ever receive. The chance to be a Mother, that has been beautiful experience, full of challenges and responsibilites, but so enriching at the same time, and for that I will be eternally grateful.
Since the moment we got symbolically married, it made a difference in our lives. We honored our beautiful love and our love grows everyday. I am so grateful that she came into my life and has taught me how to be a better person.”
Gabby, in her own words: “Tener dos mamás es divertido, me quieren harto por eso las quiero mucho, son muy alegres, sentimentales, divertidas ademas me dan amor incondicional me protegen, no me pegan, no me tratan mal me enseñan muchas cosas nuevas me siento super bien de tener dos mamás siento una conexión entre ellas y yo creo que nos mantendremos juntas por mucho tiempo siento alegría cuando estoy con ellas, cuando conocí a mami Clau sentí una conexión entre nosotras de inmediata que nos mantendría juntas.”
In English:
“Having two Moms is fun, they love me so much and that is why I love them. They are joyful, sensitive, fun and they love me unconditionally, they protect me, they don’t hit me, they don’t mistreat me. They teach me lots of new things and I feel really great having two Moms. I feel that I have a connection with them and I feel we are going to be together for a long time. When I met my mommy Clau, I felt conecction with her right away and that we were going to stay together.”